Journey to Build a Smart and Empowered Nation

Life often nudges us toward a purpose far greater than we can

comprehend. My journey started as a 17-year-old girl filled with dreams and an

unrelenting desire to make a difference. Growing up, I witnessed the

heartbreaking realities faced by underprivileged children in my

community—children denied education, women silenced by poverty, and youth

crippled by unemployment. Their silent cries resonated deeply within me,

igniting a fire that would eventually become the foundation of Sombhabona. I

took my first step in 2008, organizing small initiatives for children in my

neighborhood. It was simple—teaching basic math and Bengali under the shade of

a tree. But the smiles on their faces and the light in their eyes as they

grasped their lessons filled me with a sense of fulfillment I had never known.

This was when I realized that the power of knowledge could transform lives. In

2011, along with like-minded individuals, I co-founded Sombhabona, an

organization dedicated to sustainable development. We believed in empowering

the marginalized—children, youth, and women—because their potential was

boundless, yet constrained by circumstances beyond their control. The journey

wasn’t easy. Resources were limited, doubts were frequent, and challenges felt

insurmountable at times. But the unwavering belief in our cause kept us moving

forward. One of our earliest projects, Pushpokoli School, remains closest to my

heart. With the slogan “Amrao Pari, Sujog Daw” (“We can too, give us the

chance”), we started with a handful of students in Pallabi, Mirpur. Today, over

300 children fill the classrooms with laughter and curiosity. Over the past 13

years, this humble school has touched the lives of more than 10,000 children,

offering them not just education but hope and the chance to dream. Through our

Onindito Naree Project, we’ve seen women, once confined to their homes, become

breadwinners, artisans, and even entrepreneurs. The slogan “Empowered Mother,

Promising Child” perfectly embodies our belief that an empowered woman is the

cornerstone of a thriving family and community. More than 5,000 women have been

trained under this initiative, and the ripple effect of their empowerment has

impacted the lives of nearly 20,000 people. In 2022, we launched the Sombhabona

ICT Project with the vision of “Empowering Lives through Enlightened

Technology.” Watching young men and women, once shackled by unemployment, learn

ICT skills and step into the global digital workforce has been a testament to

the transformative power of technology. The Sawnirvor Project and Amar Ghor

Amar Karkhana have proven that even in the darkest times, such as the COVID-19

pandemic, resilience and innovation can prevail. Women who once feared losing their

livelihoods are now running home-based garment units, ensuring their families'

security and financial stability. Each project is a story of perseverance—of

people refusing to give up despite life’s harshest challenges. Sombhabona is

not just an organization; it is a family bound by the belief that every

individual deserves dignity, opportunity, and hope. Looking back, I see not

just the numbers—more than 25,000 lives directly impacted, countless smiles

restored—but the strength of the human spirit. Sombhabona is a dream come true

for many, including me. As a co-founder, I am not just building a sustainable

development model; I am nurturing a legacy of love, empowerment, and

resilience. For the rest of my life, I will remain dedicated to this mission,

because there is no greater joy than watching someone transform their life

through the opportunities we can provide. This is my purpose, and this is the

story of Sombhabona. Together, we will build a smarter, stronger, and more

empowered nation.